[CSM]

Associated with, is not causation. It is much the same as stating as fact that 3,000 lung cancer deaths and 35,000 coronary heart disease deaths occur annually among adult nonsmokers in the US as a result of riding in cars.

Are you positive it is the SHS or could it be air polution in general?

Now, for the asthma cases, that one is easy to debunk. If second hand smoke is causing asthma cases, why has the rate of asthma gone up while the rate of smoking has gone down. Using your logic, I would say that the negative correlation should lead to a fact that SHS is a useful tool in preventing asthma.

Your last two points indicate that people are exposed to SHS. No kidding.

[notigar]

You are going to have to explain your car anology. I can't quite follow it.

As for the asthma, maybe, while smoking is going down, more poor people with less insurance are smoking. Their kids get asthma.

[SheLion]

ABNORMAL LUNG ANATOMY
What Happens With COPD

Asthma

Asthma is not caused by smoking.

The reason asthma develops in one person and not another is not well known. Asthma tends to run in families, but not always.

People with asthma have extra-sensitive airways that overreact to certain environmental elements such as:

• pollens
• fungus
• molds
• animal secretions
• house dust mites
• cold air, etc.

When the airways are exposed to these stimuli, the linings of the airways react by becoming inflamed and swollen. They become "twitchy," meaning that the muscles surrounding the airways tighten and cause the airways to narrow.

Asthma is characterized by episodes of shortness of breath (SOB), tightness in the chest, wheezing and cough, or a combination of the above.

"Pure" asthma can be treated effectively because the changes to the airways can be reversed in most instances. However, if there is a component of emphysema or chronic bronchitis to the asthma condition, the changes cannot be reversed.

For more information about asthma, please refer to the Canadian Lung Association Asthma Resource Center.